Improved bed-lounge



,UNITED/STATES PATENT' @On-Frou.

/JzAMES L. COX, OF MANCHESTERNEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPRovl-:D BED-LOUNGE.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent N0. 81,880, dated September 8, 1868.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES L. Cox, of Manchester, county of Hillsborough, and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and Improved Bed-Lounge; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication. f

The object of my invention is to produce a cheap, durable, and convenient bed-lounge.

My invention has been suggested by the general lack of utility in common bed-lounges, and the want of shapeliness caused by the manner in which they are built.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of lounge with Iunholsterin g removed and back turned down. Fig. 2 is a viewv of the back side of the back, showing the hinges and ratchet for operating the same. Fig. 3 shows a sectional end view of the lounge.

B is the bottom or body of the lounge; G, the arm; A, the back; A', the part of the back which is hung on hinges. D is a blind-joint. E is a double spring, like those used in the body of the lounge; F, the style of spring used for the back edge of the body of the lounge and for the back A. a is the hinge for the back to swing from the body of the lounge. d is a strap of metal, attached to the back under the covering and opposite the hinge a. b is a ratchet attached to strap d at l.

The hinge a is jointed at e, in order to allow the back of the lounge, when lowered, to present the whole surface of the back on a level withthe body of the lounge, thereby giving a broad surface, while the peculiar shape of the hinge, as shown in the drawings, keeps the back down when used as a back, so that the whole width of the back does not come into view; one of the great objections to the ordinary bed-lounges being that, when the bed is made by turning down the back, the back is so wide, necessarily, that when up the lounge presents an awkward and clumsy appearance. The use of my hinge overcomes this.

The ratchet b passes through hinge a at a', below the joint o. The ratchet b is provided with slot o. The use of this is, when the back is up, used as a back, the ratchet, by its own y weight, drops into a lock at in the hinge a,

thus keeping the back up in position. The joint of the hinge a is situated a little distance from the lower edge of the back. The lower part of the hinge extends down and then to the left, forming a right angle, and then eX- tending down farther, giving a strap for fastening to the back leg of the lounge at a'.

The particular importance of this hinge, made in the manner described, is to present to view, as mentioned above, only about twothirds of the back when used as a back to the lounge, while it gives the whole surface of the back when lowered to use the lounge as a bed.

The ratchet b drops readily into place by its own weight in a lounge for use. When it is desired to lower the back the ratchet is lifted out of the lock a: in the hinge a by means of the cord K and roller-knob p. I accomplish the same in many waysby a string or wire attached without the knob, or by lifting on the ratchet itself.

I do not claim the string and knob, as shown, as essential to the perfectness of my invention.

The back A is provided with legs S S, hung with a hinge that they may be out of the way when the lounge is shut up.

The arm C of the body of the lounge can be lowered to a level with the bottom by means of the ratchet h and catch and the b] ind-joint D. This ratchet is disengaged from the catch i by a cord, K, and roller-knob L. When this is done the arm is lowered to a level with the lounge-bottom, while, when the arm is raised, the ratchet h, by its own weight, engages with catch 'L'.

One end of the back A is made adjustable, like arm C. This end is shown as A'. The object is, when the back A is down, making a bed of the lounge, a uniform incline can be given it, to correspond with the incline of the arm C.

The adjustable end of the back is hung upon hinges at g is operated by means of the ratchet m and fastening o. This ratchet m is disengaged by the snap z.

An important feature of my invention is in upholstering the back edge of the bottom of the lounge. I put half-springs, as shown at F, in this side. This is done to give a uniform surface to the lounge when used as a bed.

Iam 'aware that many bed-lounges have been made, but not constructed and. operated 'as mine is. Therefore I do not claim the inven other, as described, and for the purposes speeified.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subseribing Witnesses.

JAMES L. COX.

Witnesses:

CARROLL D. WRIGHT, W. W. WRIGHT. Y 

